Ban Spokesman Denies Remarks Of UN Chief On Iran

New York, Feb 20, IRNA – Spokesman for the United Nations Secretary General Martin Nesirky rejected the claims attributed to the UN Chief Ban Ki-moon on Iran. Talking to IRNA on Tuesday, he strictly denied the remarks cited by “Washington Post” daily and stated that contrary to the daily’s claims regarding the UN chief’s remarks on Iran’s nuclear program, he had meant North Korea not Iran. Asked to comment on the authenticity of the daily’s other claims, he said Ban has never made any remarks suggesting that Iran might use negotiations with the UN as a cover up to build nuclear bombs. Nesirky who was talking during his daily briefing with reporters stressed that the secretary general has always underlined dialogue and diplomacy as only ways to resolve Iran’s nuclear case. He said Mr Ban has repeatedly called on Iran to assure the international community of the peaceful nature of its nuclear program which, he said, Tehran has failed to do so far. IRNA correspondent reminded the spokesman of the parallel lines the Sec Gen has drawn between Iran’s peaceful nuclear program and the North Korean nuclear activities and noted that making such a comparison is really a big deal. He asked Nesirky to provide documents and bases for such a claim by Ban Ki-moon. He said the sec gen is only seeking acceleration of dialogues especially now that another round of talks is to start soon./end